HC Deb 28 February 1901 vol 90 cc73-4
DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Westport Rural District Council urging upon the Congested Districts Board for Ireland the great importance of the purchase by the board of the Louisburgh and Aughagower estates of the Marquess of Sligo; and would he, as President of the Board, use his influence in bringing about the speedy purchase of those estates, and thereby contribute to putting a stop to the tide of emigration from those districts.

MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)

At the same time I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that the Congested Districts Board many months ago entered into negotiations for the purchase of the estates of the Marquess of Sligo, in the parishes of Louisburgh and Aughagower, he can say what is the cause of the delay in completing the purchase.

MR. WYNDHAM

Owing to the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of so large an estate as that of Lord Dillon, the limit of advances of guaranteed land stock fixed by the Land Law Act, 1896, has been reached in the case of the County Mayo, and until a considerable portion of that estate has been resold to the tenants the Board will not be able to resume negotiations for the purchase of other estates. There ought to be no long delay.

MR. DILLON

Can the right hon. Gentleman not see his way to remove the difficulty?

MR. WYNDHAM

I should prefer not now to discuss a question of policy or legislation.